StemCell Therapy

Jayden Lanning is leaving on a 10-day trip Friday to see the Eiffel Tower in Paris, to gaze at the iconic landmark as its gold lights sparkle at night. If the skies are right later during a stop inIceland, the 11-year-old Ottawa girl may also get to see the Northern Lights, too.

If she's going to go blind, Jayden wants to see the best the world has to offer.

Lanning's parents, Steve and Belinda, adopted Jayden as a baby, andlearned when she was two months old thatshe was deaf.

By coincidence, Belinda Lanning is a sign language interpreter. After teaching Jayden to sign, getting her cochlear implants and intensive speech therapy, her parents thought they had things under control.

Jayden, Belinda, Alena and Steve Lanning outside of their Ottawa home. Their trip is all about seeing the sights through the eyes of their children. (Ashley Burke/CBC)

Then, when she was nine, theylearned she had Usher syndrome, a condition that affects some three to six per cent of children who are deaf and leads to balance and vision issues. In the most serious cases, like Jayden's, it could leadto total blindness. There is currently no cure for Usher syndrome.

"We recognize time is precious," said Belinda Lanning. "We want that filing cabinet in her mind to be full of all sorts of memories so that if she's faced with the future of total blindness, that she has so much to still live in her mind and see still."

Jayden has little peripheral vision. When she looks at objects up close, it's like looking through a circle the size of a golf ball. That tunnel vision could close in entirely during her teen years, her doctors say.

"You get choked up even thinking about it," said her father Steve. "It's tough I just can't fathom really, going without your eyesight."

It was during a heart-to-heart with her daughter not long after they learned she would likely lose her visionthat Belinda asked Jayden what she wanted to see before she lost her sight, and her daughter said the Eiffel Tower.

"I thought that was amazing," said Belinda. "I would have not expected she would have said that. It blew me away."

Jayden is a creative preteen who loves to draw in vivid colours, is interested in fashion, and often gets lost in a good book. Paris is a place she's read all about.

Jayden was diagnosed with Usher syndrome at the age of 9. Her parents had suspected for years that was why her balance was off. (Ashley Burke/CBC)

"I thought it'd be a really interesting place to see," saidJaydenof Paris.

"It seems like it would be really cool to see at night with all the lights, lighting up the entire city. Just seeing it glow."

When Jayden's school, church and friends learned about her wish, they rallied to turn her dream into a reality.

The Ottawa Christian School threw a Paris-themed movie night where kids ate popcorn and parents went out for a date night.

Belinda says their family's faith has given them strength. (Ashley Burke/CBC)

The school also helped bake more than 150 pies to raise money with the Barrhaven Fellowship church the Lannings attend. A crowd-funding campaign brought in more support from friends, family, even strangers around the world.

Six months later, the community raised more than $15,000 for the Lannings' one-of-a-kind trip.

"I feel like it's really kind and generous," said Jayden. "It's so special, because lots of people planned it all out for us."

The Lannings will travel Paris for a week to gaze at theEiffel Tower at day and night and take in the other sights.

On the way home, they're stopping over inIceland with hopes Jayden and her six-year-old sister Alenawill see another spectacular light show.

"They say in Iceland the Northern Lights light up the sky with colour," said Steve. "That's what we want her to see."

Steve Lanning said during the day Jayden has been incrediblystrong. It's only every few months at night, when her implants are off and she can't hear, that she voices her fears and sometimes calls outto her parents.

Jayden loves to draw colourful pictures, write in her notebook and get lost in books. (Ashley Burke/CBC)

"Sometimes it's just a question am I ever going to be able to drive?" said Belinda."Sometimes it's just I'm scared I'm going blind and not going to be able to do things other kids can do. Sometimes it's just needing an extra hug."

Since Jayden can't hear at night, her parents write back and forth to her on an erasable dry board. Message after message, they calm her fears.

No matter what happens next, Jayden's family wants her to keep positive.

"She's always going to be surrounded by love no matter what," said Belinda. "We have lots of dreams for her and those dreams haven't changed.

"She's been through a lot and keeps smiling. She has a lot going for her no matter what happens."

See the article here:
Ottawa girl, facing vision loss, to take in the City of Light - CBC.ca

What do solar cells and blindness have in common?

Rasmus Schmidt Davidsen, a post-doctoral researcher at Danish Technical University (DTU), hopes to develop an implant containing thousands of small isolated solar cells thatcan be placed behind the retina of blind patients to give them their sight back.

There are over 2 million people worldwide who are blind because the photoreceptors in their eyes dont work properly. The function of photoreceptors is to absorb light and send electronic impulses to the brain. When the patient doesnt receive these impulses, he or she experiences blindness.

READ ALSO: The Danish app that lends eyes to the blind

Davidsen explained that the eyes photoreceptors behave very much like solar cells, so the team got the idea that they could use some of the expertise that he has from the field of solar cells to make a chip for blind people. Each solar cell would be the equivalent of 1 pixel in the artificial vision they are trying to create.

Getting enough light One of the first challenges is to get enough power from natural light.

Even the best solar cells are unable to generate enough power based on natural light, saidDavidsen.

We are also limited to an area of 3 x 3 millimetres into whichthe surgeon can insert the chip. We cant even use the entire area because there also has to be electrodes and holes so that tissue fluids can flow freely into the eye.

The light problem has fortunately been solved by other researchers who found that, for example, the light source can be installed in glasses such as those used in Google Glass.

At the moment, the team are working with fresh eye tissue from pigs supplied by Danish Crown. At the moment, were working on the first prototype implant. Time will tell whether it will be possible to detect a reaction from the nerve cells from the pigs eyes.

A promising but challenging project A senior doctor and clinical professor at the eye department of Aarhus University Hospital, Toke Bek, who is co-operating with DTU, has high hopes for the project but can also see many challenges ahead.

One of them is biocomplexity. It is quite likely that the tissue will reject foreign bodies, especially in the eye. But nano-technicians can make an implant that can be encapsulated into material that the tissue cant easily reject. And they can make it very small.

He added that the solar cells are able to make use of nearly 100 percent of the light.

All in all, it makes sense to continue work on the project. There are considerable advantages working in co-operation with DTU, Bek added.

View post:
Danish project really may give eyesight to the blind - The Copenhagen Post - Danish news in english

Perkasie, Pa. (WTXF) - A local boy with an eye disease needs help getting a device to see.

13-year old Andrew Lowe or AJ is what he likes to be called, is like many teens. He enjoys watching TV, playing card games and he likes sports.

I dropped in on him at a wrestling club in Hilltown where he goes during the off season when he's not wrestling for his school team. He revealed to me why over the past two years he's developed a passion for wrestling.

"It's pretty much the one sport I can do. It's a close up sport," he said. AJ's eyesight is the reason he's limited in many areas not just sports. His mom Julie explains.

"Just being able to say hi to people walking down the hall, by the time he can probably recognize your face, you're already walking by him. We'll send him to the kitchen to find the bananas and he'll be in there five minutes looking around," she said. Thats because AJ has Stargardt disease. Its a kind of juvenile macular degeneration. It's progressive and will eventually completely take away his central vision and there's no cure. Greg Lowe says his son was diagnosed three years ago.

"Imagine not being able to see anything in the center of your vision where you have just blank spots or scratchy film over everything you see. Like looking through a lace curtain. How difficult that must be," said AJs father. But now there's hope through E-sight. Its a device that gives some sight to certain people who are legally blind. An E-sight rep came to AJs house for him to try it out. His mother gets emotional talking about the moment they realized it worked for him.

"My husband was sitting across the table and Andrew saw Greg and a smile crossed his face and he said I can see you dad. Im sorry, said Julie as she teared up. AJ says, It was surprising that I could actually see my parents face which I haven't seen in like four years and it was very nice. I could actually read some books.

View post:
Local boy with eye disease needs help getting device to see - FOX 29 News Philadelphia

Richard Fink was an All-High first baseman who weighed about 165 pounds when he played for the Bennett High School baseball team during the mid-1970s. He spent the 1980s and 90s playing Muni and suburban hardball with teams based near his Getzville home, as well as pickup basketball up to three times a week.

Im very competitive, he said.

Fink, 62, has worked the last three decades as a legal process server. Over the years, he spent a growing amount of time behind a desk or the wheel of a car. He ate lots of food on the go and enjoyed his share of the standard Buffalo diet: breakfast sandwiches, chicken wings and pizza.

The nearly 6-foot-tall Fink weighed 215 pounds when a case of pneumonia knocked him off his feet for two months early last year. He packed on another 15 pounds as he recovered.

Meanwhile, his blood sugar level crept into the diabetes range.

Ive played sports my whole life, so when youre diagnosed with diabetes its a shock, he said.

[BELOW: Diabetes ABCs, key prediabetes and diabetes test levels]

Fink was not at all comfortable joining the legion of 115 million Americans roughly one in three with diabetes or prediabetes. His primary care doctor put him on the oral medication Metformin and helped him understand the dangers unaddressed high blood sugar levels can bring: poor circulation that boosts the risk of blindness and kidney failure, heart attack, stroke and limb amputation.

Fink was floored.

If scientists tell you that you can go blind looking at the sun during an eclipse, you dont look. Its an immediate reaction, he said. But if it comes down to eating or other choices, its OK, because nothing happens immediately to you. But then, 20 years later, that accumulation of poor eating habits and behavior, it catches up with you. The bill comes due.

Fink decided to beat back diabetes. Heres how.

Start with a plan

Richard Fink, left, pledged to amp up his weekly workout regimen and change his diet after he was diagnosed with diabetes. (Robert Kirkham/Buffalo News)

Fink started his Type 2 diabetic journey last spring after lab tests showed his fasting blood sugar level at 338 milligrams per deciliter, more than three times the normal level. His A1C reading an average blood sugar percentage over two to three months stood at 7.2, also in the diabetes range.

The best thing someone can do when they get diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes is to lose weight, he said. Its the essential key to ridding yourself of diabetes.

[RELATED: Type 1 diabetic from WNY touts little-used inhalable insulin]

Fink had long been interested in the training regimens of top athletes, even though he didnt always follow them himself, so he started from a place he understood: He needed to burn off more calories than he consumed.

Research shows that losing 15 percent of your body weight can lower the risk of Type 2 diabetes by more than 50 percent, according to the American Diabetes Association.

That kind of weight loss needed to start with a new mental approach, Fink reasoned. He started to make better, more educated health and fitness choices going forward every day and not get too discouraged if he slipped up occasionally.

The problem most people have is they want instant gratification, he said. You dont get out of shape overnight. You dont get in shape overnight. Its a process.

Nutrition is key

A Mediterranean diet including plenty of chicken and fish has been part of Richard Fink's nutrition plan. (Robert Kirkham/Buffalo News)

Diet and exercise has to be part of any diabetic regime, no matter what, said Dr. Howard Lippes, a Williamsville endocrinologist.

Fink was determined to add more exercise to his weekly regimen. For him, the remnants of his past made this the easier part. The more important thing to remember is that you cannot out-train a bad diet, he said.

He pretty much knew how to eat right, but the new numbers in his life underlined that he didnt make the best choices often enough. He turned decidedly to a Mediterranean diet. He gave up cereal, white breads and other processed foods made with simple carbohydrates and added sugars. Simple carbs as opposed to their more complex kin, found mostly in vegetables raise blood sugar levels, which promote body inflammation that fuels many chronic diseases, including diabetes, the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S.

Fink fed his better habits with information gleaned from books, magazines and (shameful plug intended) WNY Refresh. He tends to eat eggs for breakfast, a light, chicken-based meal for lunch and dinners rich in chicken, fish, fruits and vegetables. He drinks plenty of water. He has never smoked anything and doesnt drink alcohol, which in excess also promotes disease.

Do I still love wings? Absolutely, he said. Do I still have them once in a while? Sure, but I have changed to a lot of healthy eating. You need to have chicken and fish and salads, and be careful on dressings and toppings. Youve got to read labels, too. I never thought I needed to. The more informed you can become, the better.

Exercise counts

Each member who takes group classes at Orangetheory wears a heart rate monitor to let them know when they approach their maximum heart rate. (Robert Kirkham/Buffalo News)

There are plenty of days I dont want to work out, Fink said, but those are the days that are most important. You have to force yourself to do what you need to do to burn calories, and drive by places where you shouldnt be eating.

[RELATED STORY: Falls Memorial studies new wound treatment]

Fink turned to Orangetheory in Amherst to burn calories. He takes a late afternoon class five to six days a week in which workouts vary, keeping things interesting and targeting different muscle groups. Trainers help guide his fitness and exercise form during hourlong workouts split between challenging treadmill work and circuit training that includes rowing machines, free weights and TRX resistance bands. The workouts focus on splat points one point for every minute in the Orange zone, 84 to 90 percent of your maximum heart rate. You want you to get 12 to 20 points per session to develop an afterburn that keeps you shedding calories for a day or so after your workout.

When I go for my workout, I burn 800, 900 calories, Fink said, so technically, after my workout, I havent eaten because Ive burned off breakfast and lunch.

Your heart is a muscle that Fink compares to a Lamborghini. If you walk every day, thats good, but its like driving that car at 25 miles an hour, he said. Youve got to open that up, raise that heart rate every once in a while, to make sure youre working it.

Its important to check with your doctor before starting an exercise routine.

A new way of life

Fink has learned since last spring that hard, consistent work can pay off. Being healthy is a second job, he said.

He has lost 30 pounds since last year and his A1C level is down to 5.4 below the prediabetic and diabetic range. He is taking a quarter the dose of his original diabetes prescription and looks to soon get off it completely. He aims to stay this way.

You cant say, I got rid of it, so I can eat doughnuts again. You dont want to do that, he said. You can blow a whole workout with foods like that. You have to combine exercise with diet. People say they cant lose weight. Dont say you cant. Say youre not going to make the effort. If youre not making the effort, who are you cheating?

The ABCs of diabetes

Type 1 diabetes:Normally diagnosed in children and young adults. The body does not produce insulin, a hormone needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy the bodys cells need for daily life. Only 5 percent of people with diabetes have this form of the disease, which is treated with insulin therapy.

Type2diabetes:Almost 30 million Americans have Type 1 or 2 diabetes; Type 2 is by far the most common form. The body does not produce enough insulin, or the cells ignore the insulin, and glucose builds up in the bloodstream instead.

It is more common as a percentage among African-Americans, Latinos, Native Americans and Asian Americans. Roughly one in four Americans age 65 and older has diabetes.

More than 80 percent of those with Type 2 diabetes are overweight.

Complications, which can vary widely and by degree, include glaucoma, cataracts and other eye problems; numbness in the feet; skin infections and skin disorders; hearing loss; depression; and high blood pressure, which raises your risk for heart attack, stroke and kidney disease.

High blood sugar can overwork the kidneys, causing them to stop working properly. When diagnosed early, kidney disease can be slowed with treatment; when diagnosed later, kidney failure usually results.

Prediabetes:An estimated 86 million Americans have prediabetes. Before people develop Type 2 diabetes, they almost always have prediabetes, or blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes.

Recent research has shown that some long-term damage to the body, especially the heart and circulatory system, may already be occurring during prediabetes.

Key tests

A1C: Measures the average blood sugar (glucose) level percentage over 2-3 months.

Results of A1C:

Normal:less than 5.7 percent

Prediabetes:5.7 to 6.4 percent

Diabetes:6.5 percent or higher

Fasting Plasma Glucose: Levels of milligrams per deciliter of blood glucose after fasting at least 8 hours.

Results of FPG:

Normal:less than 100 mg/dl

Prediabetes:100-125 mg/dl

Diabetes:126 mg/dl or higher

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test: Levels of milligrams per deciliter before and 2 hours after a sweet drink; most often used to test for diabetes during pregnancy.

Results of OCTT:

Normal:less than 140 mg/dl

Prediabetes:140-129 mg/dl

Diabetes:200 mg/dl or higher

Prevention and treatment

Exercise and a healthy diet are key to preventing prediabetes and diabetes, as well as better managing them. (Robert Kirkham/Buffalo News)

Regular exercise and a healthy diet void of processed foods can help.

Smoking, high blood pressure, abnormal blood cholesterol levels, being overweight and being sedentary can worsen diabetes.

Medications and dialysis are treatments that may be required.

Sources: American Diabetes Association (diabetes.org), Seneca Nation of Indians Diabetes Foundation

Resourcesfrom the Buffalo & Erie County Public Libraries

What to Expect When You Have Diabetes: 170 tips for living well with diabetes, American Diabetes Association

Whole Cooking & Nutrition: An everyday superfoods approach to planning, cooking, and eating with diabetes, Katie Cavuto

Your Type 2 Diabetes Action Plan: Tips, techniques, and practical advice for living well with diabetes, American Diabetes Association

The Diabetes Reset: Avoid it, control it, even reverse it a doctors scientific program, George King

Diabetes Without Drugs: The 5-step program to control blood sugar naturally and prevent diabetes complications, Suzy Cohen

For more information, visit buffalolib.org.

email: refresh@buffnews.com

Twitter: @BNrefresh, @ScottBScanlon

Go here to read the rest:
Floored by diabetes diagnosis, Richard Fink fought back - Buffalo News

Youths who received any breastfeeding for at least 12 months or full breastfeeding for at least six months had lower odds of developing type 1 diabetes.

Data was evaluated from two population-based cohorts on 155,392 children followed from birth (1996-2009) to 2014 (Danish National Birth Cohort) or 2015 (Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study) to determine the relationship between the duration of full or any breastfeeding and the risk for type 1 diabetes in children. Infant dietary practices were reported by parents when children were ages 6 and 18 months. The outcome was clinical type 1 diabetes, ascertained from nationwide childhood diabetes registries. Hazard ratios were estimated using Cox regression.

Overall, 504 participants developed type 1 diabetes for an incidence of 30.5 per 100,000 person-years in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort and 23.5 per 100,000 person-years in the Danish National Birth Cohort.

Children who were never breastfed had a twofold increased risk of type 1 diabetes compared with those who were breastfed (hazard ratio 2.29 [95% CI 1.144.61] for no breastfeeding vs. any breastfeeding for 12 months). Among those who were breastfed, however, the incidence of type 1 diabetes was independent of duration of both full breastfeeding (hazard ratio per month 0.99 [95% CI 0.971.01]) and any breastfeeding (0.97 [0.921.03]).

Breastfeeding was never initiated in 0.8% of the Norwegian cohort and 2.4% of the Danish cohort; full breastfeeding for at least 6 months was reported in 13.8% of the Norwegian cohort and 6.3% of the Danish cohort; any breastfeeding for at least 12 months was reported in 38.5% of the Norwegian cohort and 20.2% of the Danish cohort.

The risk for developing type 1 diabetes was higher in children who were never breastfed compared with any breastfeeding for at least 12 months (HR = 2.29; 95% CI, 1.14-4.61) and compared with full breastfeeding for at least 6 months (HR = 2.31; 95% CI, 1.11-4.8).

The results from two of the worlds largest birth cohorts provide suggestive evidence for the hypothesis that initiating breastfeeding may reduce the risk of type 1 diabetes, the researchers wrote. However, among those who were breastfed, the study provides strong evidence against a clinically important association with prolonging full or any breastfeeding and risk of type 1 diabetes.

In another but similar study, Nonindigenous Canadian mothers who initiated breastfeeding in the hospital reduced their risk for diabetes by 23%, whereas their offspring experienced an 18% risk reduction for developing the disease, according to study findings presented at the World Diabetes Congress.

In this population-based analysis of more than 330,000 live births during a 24-year period, researchers also found that women saw a 14% risk reduction for diabetes when they initiated breastfeeding.

The message from these studies is that, every mother should try to initiate breastfeeding if she can, no matter how long the duration, to receive beneficial effects including reducing the risk for diabetes.

For this study, they analyzed hospital records from 334,553 deliveries (60,088 First Nation births) taking place in Manitoba between 1987 and 2011. Within the cohort, 262,124 women initiated breastfeeding in the hospital (mean age, 28 years; 13% First Nations; 2.9% with gestational diabetes), and 72,429 did not initiate breastfeeding (mean age, 26 years; 36% First Nations; 4.2% with gestational diabetes), according to hospital records that note breastfeeding initiation at discharge. Researchers also determined diabetes status through hospital records.

Breastfeeding initiation was associated with significantly lower incidence of diabetes in mothers and offspring without a history of gestational diabetes.

Researchers found that First Nations status did not significantly affect the association between breastfeeding and incident diabetes for offspring and, therefore, pooled analyses, finding that children of mothers who initiated breastfeeding had an 18% reduced risk for diabetes (adjusted HR = 0.83; 95% CI, 0.69-0.99).

The protective effects of breastfeeding observed in mothers and children were independent of First Nations status, gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension, maternal age, birth weight, and socioeconomic factors, according to researchers.

Practice Pearls:

Diabetes Care 2017 May; dc170016. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc17-0016

Martens PJ, et al. Abstract #0511. Presented at: World Diabetes Congress; Nov. 30-Dec. 4, 2015

Read the rest here:
Breastfeeding Helps to Prevent Type 1 Diabetes - Diabetes In Control

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA--(Marketwired - May 19, 2017) - Propanc Biopharma Inc. (OTCQB: PPCH) ("Propanc Biopharma" or "the Company"), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focusing on development of new and proprietary treatments for cancer patients suffering from solid tumors such as pancreatic, ovarian and colorectal cancers, today announced that fresh new insights have emerged into how cancer stem cells (CSCs) are able to resist standard treatments, become more aggressive and spread rapidly. Published in Oncogene, by researchers from the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute south of Barcelona, Spain, the findings have significant implications for Propanc Biopharma's lead product PRP, which reprograms CSCs so that they are no longer malignant and a threat to the patient. PRP is a solution for once daily intravenous administration of a combination of two pancreatic proenzymes trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen.

One of the authors from the study, Dr Miguel ngel Pujana, describes why tumors adapt to and resist certain therapies, like mTOR inhibitors, a treatment used in advanced stages of breast cancer. He links mTOR inhibition with increased expression of certain genes, like EVI1, which contributes to epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), a key process by which cancer cells become stem cell-like, motile and invasive, seeding new tumors. Dr Miguel concludes, "Tumor cells are able to adapt to treatment through a phenotype (character) shift that makes them more aggressive and sustains their metastatic potential." Data from hundreds of cell lines expand on the concept that CSCs are frequently the source of therapy resistance and metastasis, the main cause of patient death from cancer.

"When administering PRP to a patient, we are essentially reprogramming CSC gene expression, pushing these cells back to a normal, less malignant state, so they die naturally," said Dr Kenyon, Propanc's Chief Scientific Officer. "Reversing the EMT process is a key feature of PRP and is fast becoming a credible solution to controlling CSCs, which are responsible for cancer spreading, or metastasis, the main cause of patient death from cancer."

"The latest scientific discoveries regarding CSC reprograming shows we are on the right track, which we believe is not reflected in our current market capitalization," said James Nathanielsz Propanc's Chief Executive Officer. "Nevertheless, we are advancing towards First-In-Human studies and remain excited about developing PRP as a new therapeutic approach for cancer sufferers. We remain focused on delivering long term value to our loyal shareholders."

The rationale for developing PRP is based on a set of in-vitro studies on CSCs, as well as xenograft and syngeneic mouse models of ovarian and pancreatic cancers, respectively. In summary, these data indicate that the dramatic reduction of cellular markers associated with the process of EMT as a consequence of PRP treatment, could not only reverse the EMT process with the implication to stop tumor progression and metastasis, but also seem to suppress the development of CSCs. Consequently, these results are strong indicators of the therapeutic potential of PRP that could be categorized as an anti-CSC therapeutic drug.

Currently progressing towards First-In-Human studies, PRP aims to prevent tumor recurrence and metastasis from solid tumors. Eighty percent of all cancers are solid tumors and metastasis is the main cause of patient death from cancer. According to the World Health Organization, 8.2 million people died from cancer in 2012. Consequently, a report by IMS Health states innovative therapies are driving the global oncology market to meet demand, which is expected to reach $150 Billion by 2020. The Company's initial target patient populations are pancreatic, ovarian and colorectal cancers, representing a combined market segment of $14 Billion predicted in 2020, by GBI Research.

To view Propanc Biopharma's "Mechanism of Action" video on anti-cancer product candidate, PRP, please click on the following link: http://www.propanc.com/news-media/video

To be added to Propanc Biopharma's email distribution list, please click on the following link: http://ir.propanc.com/email-alerts and submit the online request form.

About Propanc Biopharma:Propanc Biopharma is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing new cancer treatments initially for patients suffering from pancreatic, ovarian and colorectal cancers. We have developed a formulation of anti-cancer compounds, which exert a number of effects designed to control or prevent tumors from recurring and spreading throughout the body. Our products involve or employ pancreatic proenzymes, which are inactive precursors of enzymes. In the near term, we intend to target patients with limited remaining therapeutic options for the treatment of solid tumors. In future, we intend to develop our lead product to treat (i) early stage cancer and (ii) pre-cancerous diseases and (iii) as a preventative measure for patients at risk of developing cancer based on genetic screening. For more information, visit: http://www.propanc.com.

Forward-Looking Statements:All statements other than statements of historical fact contained herein are "forward-looking statements" for purposes of federal and state securities laws. Forward-looking statements may include the words "may," "will," "estimate," "intend," "continue," "believe," "expect," "plan" or "anticipate" and other similar words. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ materially from those projected or assumed. Our future financial condition and results of operations, as well as any forward-looking statements, are subject to change and to inherent risks and uncertainties including those regarding our earnings, revenues and financial condition, our ability to implement our plans, strategies and objectives for future operations, our ability to execute on proposed new products, services or development thereof, our ability to establish and maintain the proprietary nature of our technology through the patent process, our ability to license from others patents and patent applications, if necessary, to develop certain products, our ability to implement our long range business plan for various applications of our technology, our ability to enter into agreements with any necessary manufacturing, marketing and/or distribution partners for purposes of commercialization, the results of our clinical research and development, competition in the industry in which we operate, overall market conditions, and any statements or assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Other risks, uncertainties and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected may be described from time to time in reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. We do not intend, and undertake no obligation, to update any forward-looking statement contained herein, except as required by law.

See original here:
Propanc Biopharma Highlights PRP's Potential to Reprogram Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) - Marketwired (press release)

In Brief Researchers from Johns Hopkins Medicine in Maryland have discovered a rather unusual way to treat a severe form of age-related blindness. They found a virus inserted into the retina can be used to halt or even reverse the disease. A Unique Treatment

They say you dont fight fire with fire. However, researchers from Johns Hopkins Medicine in Maryland have found that sometimes a virus may be the best weapon against a disease.Their studyhas been publishedin The Lancet

The researchers werelooking for ways to treat a particular type ofage-related macular degeneration (AMD)known as a wet AMD. Its a rare and more severe form of the disease,affecting just 10 percent of all AMD patients, and it causes new blood vessels to grow under the retina, which then leak blood and fluid into the eye, leading to vision problems.

The researchers knewthey could halt and even reverse the condition by suppressing an overactive protein called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Other researchers had been able to do it with monthly eye injections, but this team was hoping to do it with just one injection.

The best way they found to do this was by using a common cold-like virus called AAV2 as a carrier of gene that activates the production of a differentprotein,sFLT01, tocounter VEGF.

In a preliminary trial involving 19 men and women 50 years old and above, the researchers injected the patients with a form of AAV2that was genetically engineered to penetrate retinal cells and deposit the gene. After the virus deposited the gene, the cells began secreting sFLT01 which bound to VEGF and prevented it from stimulating leakage and growth of abnormal blood vessels, explained a Johns Hopkins press release.

The clinical trial showed promising results, with the condition of four of the patients improving dramatically after just one viral injection. Two others saw some reduction in the fluid build up, and the treatment didnt produce any side effects in any patients. Even at the highest dose, the treatment was quite safe. We found there were almost no adverse reactions in our patients, said researcher Peter Campochiaro.

Of the patients that didnt respond, the researchers discovered that five naturally produced antibodies that would attack the AAV2 virus, rendering it unable to complete its gene depositing mission. They think these antibodies could be prevalent throughout the population, making it difficult to determine how effecting the treatment would actually be.

Nevertheless, this research is a step in the right direction, especially with AMD expected to affect almost 5.44 million people in the U.S. by 2050. This preliminary study is a small but promising step towards a new approach that will not only reduce doctor visits and the anxiety and discomfort associated with repeated injections in the eye, but may improve long-term outcomes, Campochiaro said.

See the original post:
An Experimental Gene Therapy Uses Viruses to Stop Age-Related ... - Futurism

On May 4, 2017, Puma announced the resignation of its Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, effective as of May 15, 2017, less than two weeks before the FDA's scheduled review of neratinib. On May 5, 2017, Fox Business published an article reporting that a large number of patients taking neratinib suffered from severe side effects, posing a safety risk for the drug.

Our investigation concerns whether the Company board of directors has breached its fiduciary duties to shareholders, grossly mismanaged the Company, and/or committed abuses of control in connection with the foregoing.

If you own Puma shares and wish to discuss this matter with us, or have any questions concerning your rights and interests with regard to this matter, please contact:

Robert I. Harwood, Esq. Benjamin I. Sachs-Michaels, Esq. Harwood Feffer LLP 488 Madison Avenue New York, New York 10022 Phone Numbers: (877) 935-7400 (212)935-7400 Email: bsachsmichaels@hfesq.com Website: http://www.hfesq.com Follow us on Twitter: @HarwoodFeffer

Harwood Feffer has been representing individual and institutional investors for many years, serving as lead counsel in numerous cases in federal and state courts. Please visit the Harwood Feffer LLP website (http://www.hfesq.com) for more information about the firm.

Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Harwood Feffer LLP (www.hfesq.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/harwood-feffer-llp-announces-investigation-of-puma-biotechnology-inc-300460923.html

SOURCE Harwood Feffer LLP

http://www.hfesq.com

Originally posted here:
Harwood Feffer LLP Announces Investigation of Puma Biotechnology, Inc. - PR Newswire (press release)

Investopedia

Harbour Investment Management LLC Invests $4.559 Million in iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (IBB) The Cerbat Gem iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index logo Harbour Investment Management LLC bought a new position in iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (NASDAQ:IBB) during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange ... Lucas Capital Management Has $2.254 Million Stake in iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (IBB)Sports Perspectives The 745 Shares in iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (IBB) Acquired by Schnieders Capital Management LLCBangaloreWeekly Davidson & Garrard Inc. Lowers Stake in iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (IBB)Markets Daily BBNS -Transcript Daily -Chaffey Breeze all 31 news articles »

View original post here:
Harbour Investment Management LLC Invests $4.559 Million in iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (IBB) - The Cerbat Gem

When a joint develops osteoarthritis, some of the cartilage covering the ends of the bones gradually roughens and becomes thin, and the bone underneath thickens.

According to Arthritis Research UK, over eight million people in the UK suffer from osteoarthritis - a condition perceived as only a disorder that affects the elderly.

Now, however, a doctor has said people with arthritis could benefit from taking a supplement called Pycnogenol - which is the extract of French Maritime pine bark could ease symptoms.

Dr Fred Pescatore said: While osteoarthritis is more common among the elderly, it can affect much younger people, leading them to look at alternative and natural therapies to manage their symptoms.

GETTY

A study published in the Journal of Inflammation concluded that French maritime pine bark extract Pycnogenol effectively prevented inflammation disorders in patients by moderating the immune systems response.

While the initial stages of arthritis can be blamed on wear and tear, the later stages are due to inflammation.

The inflammation is caused by cartilage cells responding to impact on joints by releasing pro-inflammatory properties called NF Kappa-B, the immune cell trigger for inflammation.

Pycnogenol was shown to lower the sensitivity of NF Kappa-B.

Getty

1 of 12

GETTY

French maritime pine bark extract Pycnogenol effectively prevented inflammation disorders in patients by moderating the immune systems response

Dr Pescatore added: Meanwhile, immune system cells release harmful substances in the joints such as free radicals and enzymes that break down connective tissue which speed up the degeneration of cartilage.

These processes are also controlled by NF Kappa-B and the effect that Pycnogenol has on NF Kappa-B will reduce the damage these substances has on the cells.

Pycnogenol was also shown to naturally inhibit COX1 and COX2 enzymes which are primarily responsible for joint pain.

Patients that supplemented with Pycnogenol noted a decrease in pain and inflammation by lowering COX1 and COX2 enzyme activity.

GETTY

Experts found Pycnogenol significantly lowers the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein by 72 per cent.

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a substance produced by the liver that increases in the presence of inflammation in the body.

The study found a significant reduction of reactive oxygen species in arthritis patients by 30 per cent.

The finding reveals the anti-inflammatory activity of Pycnogenol is effective in arthritis patients.

Arthritis Research UK also recommends people stay active to reduce symptoms of the condition.

The active ingredients in Pycnogenol can also be extracted from other sources, including peanut skin, grape seed, and witch hazel bark.

Experts have also revealed French Maritime pine bark has been hailed has a way to normalise blood pressure.

This comes after it was revealed this unexpected vegetable could reduce arthritis pain.

View post:
Natural cure for arthritis - adding THIS to your diet could ease painful symptoms - Express.co.uk

UW Health study focuses on connection... More Headlines

MADISON, Wis. - A yearlong study being conducted by UW Health is looking at strategies to help patients with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis quit smoking.

Rheumatoid arthritis is 36 times more likely in patients who are former or current smokers, and lupus is 50 percent more likely in patients who are current smokers, said Dr. Christie Bartels, a rheumatologist and health service researcher with UW Health.

Smoking cigarettes is linked to lupus and rheumatoid arthritis because of the effect it has on the immune system.

Autoimmunity is greater in people who smoke, and when we think about it, there are 7,000 different chemicals in cigarette smoke, and it makes sense that might irritate your immune system, Bartels said.

To help patients with lupus or rheumatoid arthritis stop smoking, the UW study has focused on strategies to help them quit. But instead of asking only health care providers for thoughts, they established a focus group of smokers and asked for their opinions.

The goal of the study is really to invite people to better health and not necessarily to shame people for smoking behavior, which I think has been the perception for years, Bartels said.

One of the participants in the study is Elaine Tarnutzer, who was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 1991. A smoker for 40 years, she has tried on multiple occasions to quit without much success.

She believes the approach the study is taking to smoking cessation has merit.

If it is done in a pleasant, more caring way, I think it is more acceptable than, stop smoking, said Tarnutzer.

The study has developed a smoking intervention program that can be taught to health care providers in approximately 30 minutes.

Visit link:
Study focuses on connection between smoking, rheumatoid arthritis - Channel3000.com - WISC-TV3

Zoe Belleperche and her big brother Tristan

Do it for the kids - Walk to Fight Arthritis in Trail on June 4.

Everyone has heard of it. Someones grandma or grandpa has it, and its a disease of the elderly, right? Wrong.

Did you know that kids get arthritis too? That they can even be born with it? Three in 1000 children are diagnosed with this life-altering disease, and at least one of those children lives right here in Trail.

Cindy and Adam Belleperches daughter, Zoe, was diagnosed with Juvenile Ideopathic Arthritis (JIA) in February of last year. Zoe was just 5 at the time.

It was a shocking diagnosis, and one that started an unanticipated journey for the entire family that included trips to BC Childrens Hospital, doctors offices to see pediatric rheumatologists, and many other medical appointments.

It also led them to become a part of the Walk to Fight Arthritis in Trail, taking place on June 4. As a mom and a nurse, Cindy wants to be able to share what she has learned to help create awareness about the realities of juvenile arthritis. Early diagnosis and treatment can have a dramatic affect on the disease and its progression.

When asked why she is involved with The Arthritis Societys Walk to Fight Arthritis, Cindy shares:

Our family is walking in the Trail Walk to Fight Arthritis to raise awareness about this disease, and to educate people that it can happen to kids too. Zoe was diagnosed with systemic arthritis last year, and life quickly became a series of doctors appointments, medications and blood tests. My son, Tristan, had an idea to help, inspired by a recent walk to raise funds that his school did. He suggested that I organize a walk for Zoe, to help find a cure for her disease. He even created Help save Zoe posters, in his efforts to find a cure for his little sister.

The timing wasnt right to organize an event myself, but my research into it showed that The Arthritis Society, BC & Yukon Division, was putting on a Walk to Fight Arthritis in Kelowna last June. Our entire family walked in it, and Zoe and her brother Tristan fundraised in our neighbourhood in Trail and raised over $1200. The Walk to Fight Arthritis in Kelowna was a very positive experience, and it was good to see the support around us.

We were so surprised and happy to find out that this year, The Arthritis Society had decided to hold a Walk to Fight Arthritis in Trail! I found out about it on Facebook, and through a friend in the community. Once people started hearing about it, they came forward to us, knowing about Zoe and her fight with the disease.

We have formed a team for the Trail Walk to Fight Arthritis we are called Zoes Fighters. Our family, and Zoe especially, would like to invite you and everyone in the community to join our team for the Trail Walk to Fight Arthritis on June 4. Arthritis touches us all, and we are sharing Zoes story so that it can make a difference to another child or family who may be facing the same thing one day.

Arthritis doesnt discriminate. It can happen to anyone at any time, regardless of age, ethnicity or gender. There are over 100 different kinds of arthritis, including gout, lupus and scleroderma, as well as the more commonly known types such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. You can make a difference to people in your own community like Zoe. Register today for the Trail Walk to Fight Arthritis, where every step matters. http://www.walktofightarthritis.ca

The Arthritis Society is grateful for the support of local sponsors who have helped to make the Trail Walk to Fight Arthritis possible.

Read more:
Walk for Arthritis in Trail - Trail Daily Times (registration)

Andrea Roane, WUSA 7:28 PM. EDT May 19, 2017

elderly man has pain in fingers and hands (Photo: Astrid Gast)

Arthritis is the number one cause of disability in the United States, affecting more than 50 million people, including 300,000 children and their families.

On Sunday, scores of people will be walking together, supporting each other and raising funds to find a cure for arthritis.

The event is at Nationals Park and features a three-mile and one-mile course.

Also, at the Park, information about arthritis and fun activities for the entire family. Pet owners are encouraged to bring their dogs.

You can still register by clicking here. Remember: every step counts, every dollar matters.

Swimming is one of the best exercises for people of all ages, but it is not risk free. Next week is Health and Safe Swimming week.

The focus is on simple steps swimmers, pool operators and public health officials can take to prevent drowning, pool chemical injuries and outbreaks of illnesses.

The week will highlight swimmer hygiene and the need for swimmers to take an active role in helping to protect themselves and prevent the spread of germs.

And it's Stroke Awareness month! Two area hospitals have earned Quality Achievement Awards for Stroke Care.

Sibley's Stroke Program and the Suburban Hospital-National Institutes of Health Stroke Center were honored for developing and implementing specific quality improvement measures to help prevent strokes, reduce death and disability for stroke patients.

2017 WUSA-TV

See the rest here:
Health Alert: Walk for Arthritis, Health & Safe Swimming Week, Stroke Awareness Month - W*USA 9

NEW ORLEANS, LADespite new data showing that stem cell therapy has the potential to improve exercise time and reduce mortality in patients with refractory angina, researchers said at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) 2017 Scientific Sessions last week that the option is all but dead due to withdrawal of financial support, resulting in patients being denied access to a promising treatment.

Presenting a summation of all the data that have been collected over the last decade on the use of autologous CD34+ cells to treat patients with class III or IV angina despite optimal medical therapy, Thomas Povsic, MD, PhD (Duke Clinical Research Institute, Chapel Hill, NC), said this group of patients is in dire need of new treatment options, and maintained that it is imperative to explore methods to bring this therapy to patients.

He and colleagues conducted a meta-analysis from the only three trials of CD34+ therapy in refractory angina patients: a phase I study (n = 24); ACT-34 CMI and its 24-month extension study (n = 168); and the RENEW study (n = 112). All three were randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. However, RENEW was terminated early by the sponsor due to financial reasons.

Taken together, the trials showed that among the 187 patients who received the therapy, total exercise time improved by 90.5 seconds at 12 months compared with an improvement of just 39.5 seconds in those who received a placebo.

Additionally, patients who received CD34+ treatment had more than a fourfold lower rate of mortality by 24 months (2.6% vs 11.8%; P = 0.003) and fewer instances of MACE (29.8% vs 40.0%; P = 0.08).

A Cloudy Future

Povsic said the CD34+ trials are extremely expensive to run, resulting in the only sponsor, Baxter Healthcare, divesting itself of all further research in this area.

I personally believe that this therapy has more data associated with it for efficacy and safety than any other cell therapy thats been investigated in the cardiovascular disease space, he observed. The passage of the 21st Century Cures Act may hold some hope for the future, Povsic added, since it allows for a therapy that fulfills a specific medical need to undergo expedited approval.

Its challenging because this patient population has no options, Povsics co-author Timothy Henry, MD (Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute, Los Angeles, CA), said in a press briefing prior to the presentation. This is by far the strongest data for any therapy for refractory angina. Its also the . . . strongest data for cell therapy, and its a shame that its not available to patients.

Henry added that hes hopeful the data from the meta-analysis may be well received by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Povsic noted that although other companies have expressed interest in the therapy, its future is cloudy. Referencing the termination of RENEW for financial reasons, he added that it shows the ramifications that early cessation of a clinical trial can have, because its truly a disservice to the patients that were enrolled in the trial, the investigators that invested time, and the fact that this therapy . . . seemed so close to the finish line, but [now] the path forward is unclear.

Visit link:
Access Denied: Stem Cell Therapy Shows Some Promise in Refractory Angina, but Patients Can't Get It - TCTMD

Insulin typically saves the lives of those with diabetes, but it can also be a way for some people to kill themselves, a new review warns.

People with the blood sugar disease tend to suffer higher rates of depression, the researchers explained. And suicide or suicide attempts using insulin or other diabetes medications that lower blood sugar levels may not always be an easy-to-spot attempt at self-harm, they added.

"Some suicides with insulin are likely missed in people with diabetes, just as [suicide may be missed] in people without diabetes using other medications or after a car accident. Could a suicide using insulin be missed? Absolutely," said Alicia McAuliffe-Fogarty, vice president of lifestyle management at the American Diabetes Association.

Insulin is a natural hormone produced by the body. Its job is to help usher the sugar from foods into the body's cells to provide fuel for those cells. But insulin is also a complex medication.

People with type 1 diabetes no longer make enough insulin and must give themselves insulin to stay alive. People with type 2 diabetes don't use insulin efficiently -- this is called insulin resistance -- and eventually don't make enough insulin to keep up with the body's demands. At this point, people with type 2 diabetes also need to take insulin.

Play Video

Some diabetes patients are begging doctors for free samples of life-saving insulin because of costs. Between 2002 and 2013, the price of insulin ...

Insulin can be given by multiple injections every day or via an insulin pump. Insulin pumps deliver insulin through a small tube that's inserted under the skin. The site of the insulin pump must be changed every few days. But once the tube is in, someone who uses an insulin pump only needs to push a few buttons to deliver a dose of insulin.

However, getting the right amount of insulin is no easy task. Many factors affect the body's need for insulin. Exercise decreases the need. Foods that are higher in carbohydrates increase the need. Stress and other moods can affect the need for insulin, as can illness or hormonal shifts, such as those that occur with menstruation.

People with diabetes often have to make adjustments to their insulin doses. If they make a mistake and take too much, an extremely low blood sugar level (hypoglycemia) can occur. If they give themselves too little insulin, their blood sugar levels rise (hyperglycemia). Either condition can be very dangerous.

According to Dr. Alyson Myers, director of inpatient diabetes at North Shore University Hospital, in Manhasset, N.Y., "If someone comes in with hypoglycemia, you think, 'Oh, they overdid it.' And, sometimes when people come in with hyperglycemia or DKA (a complication of hyperglycemia), the intention to self-harm can be missed."

Myers is also the lead author of the review, published recently in the journalCurrent Diabetes Reviews.

Play Video

Researchers are testing Botox injections to see if the drug could help ease depression and social anxiety. CBS News' Weijia Jiang reports.

It's not clear exactly how high the rates of suicide are in people with diabetes, though Myers said the rates are higher than in the general population.

Plus, an attempt at suicide using insulin or other blood sugar-lowering medications may ultimately fail. "The body is a resilient thing," Myers said, explaining that the body has ways to protect itself, such as releasing a natural form of sugar from the liver.

Instead of automatically assuming there was an error in care, Myers recommended that physicians consider the possibility of a suicide attempt or self-harm through the use of insulin and other medications.

She suggested that doctors follow the guidelines from the diabetes association on psychosocial care for people with diabetes that includes a multi-disciplinary team, including a behavioral health specialist.

McAuliffe-Fogarty agreed that when doctors see patients -- whether it's in the hospital or for an office visit -- they should screen for psychosocial concerns.

If a doctor identifies a potential concern, "refer to a mental health care provider so people can get the help they need to live a full and happy life," she said.

Given that 20 percent to 25 percent of people with diabetes screen positive for depressive symptoms at some point, people may need help sometimes.

"If you see signs of depression, changes in people's sleep patterns or eating behaviors, a loss of interest in things they once enjoyed; if they say things like, 'when I'm not here things will be better,' or express an intention to self-harm, make an appointment with a mental health-care provider. People often need some help coping and figuring out how to deal with things," McAuliffe-Fogarty said.

"If you're very nervous that they might harm themselves, call their doctor or bring them to the hospital. Or call 911 if you think they're in immediate trouble," she advised.

If you're concerned that a loved one or friend may be considering suicide, McAuliffe-Fogarty said it's OK to ask, though some people consider the word suicide to be taboo. "Ask, 'Are you thinking of hurting yourself or thinking of not being here?' Sometimes people are relieved and will open up."

But McAuliffe-Fogarty also cautioned that every misuse of insulin may not be a deliberate act of self-harm.

"It's not always self-harm or a suicide attempt," she stressed.

One such example, "Some people use insulin omission to lose weight. It's a type of disordered eating, but they're not trying to hurt themselves," she explained.

Read the original post:
Suicide by insulin a risk in people with diabetes - CBS News

New York Times

How Much Weight Do I Need to Lose to Prevent Diabetes? New York Times While prediabetes often leads to full-fledged Type 2 diabetes, many people can hold the condition in check if they lose a relatively small amount of weight and increase their physical activity, said Dr. Rhonda Bentley-Lewis, an assistant professor of ...

Read more:
How Much Weight Do I Need to Lose to Prevent Diabetes? - New York Times

The American Diabetes Association Education Recognition Certificate for a quality diabetes self-management education program was recently awarded to the Magnolia Regional Medical Center program.

ADSA believes that this program offers high-quality education that is an essential component of effective diabetes treatment.

The Associations Education Recognition Certificate assures that educational programs meet the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education Programs. These Standards were developed and tested under the auspices of the National Diabetes Advisory Board in 1983 and were revised by the diabetes community in 1994, 2000, 2007 and 2012.

Programs apply for recognition voluntarily. Programs that achieve recognition status have a staff of knowledgeable health professionals who can provide participants with comprehensive information about diabetes management.

The process gives professionals a national standard by which to measure the quality of services they provide, said Rex Jones, CEO. And, of course, it assures the consumer that he or she will likely receive high-quality service.

Education Recognition status is verified by an official certificate from ADA and is awarded for four years.

According to the American Diabetes Association, there are 29.1 million people or 9.3% of the population in the United States who have diabetes. While an estimated 21 million have been diagnosed, unfortunately, 8.1 million people are not aware that they have this disease. Each day more than 3,900 people are diagnosed with diabetes.

Many will first learn that they have diabetes when they are treated for one of its life-threatening complications heart disease and stroke, kidney disease, blindness, and nerve disease and amputation.

About 1.4 million new cases of diabetes were diagnosed in people aged 20 years or older in 2014 in the U.S. Diabetes contributed to 234,051 deaths in 2010, making it the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. Overall, the risk for death among people with diabetes is 50% greater than that of people of similar age but without diabetes.

The American Diabetes Association is the nations leading non-profit health organization supporting diabetes research, advocacy and information for health professionals, patients and the public. Founded in 1940, the association conducts programs in communities nationwide.

Here is the original post:
MRMC's diabetes education program receives certification - Magnoliareporter

Research led by the University of Adelaide is paving the way for safer and more effective drugs to treat type 2 diabetes, reducing side effects and the need for insulin injections.

Two studies, published in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry and BBA-General Subjects, have shown for the first time how new potential anti-diabetic drugs interact with their target in the body at the molecular level.

These new potential drugs have a completely different action than the most commonly prescribed anti-diabetic, Metformin, which acts on the liver to reduce glucose production, and are potentially more efficient at reducing blood sugar. They target a protein receptor known as PPARgamma found in fat tissue throughout the body, either fully or partially activating it in order to lower blood sugar by increasing sensitivity to insulin and changing the metabolism of fat and sugar.

"Type two diabetes is characterised by resistance to insulin with subsequent high blood sugar which leads to serious disease. It is usually associated with poor lifestyle factors such as diet and lack of exercise," says lead researcher Dr John Bruning, with the University's School of Biological Sciences and Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing.

"Prevalence of type 2 diabetes in Australia alone has more than tripled since 1990, with an estimated cost of $6 billion a year. The development of safe and more efficient therapeutics is therefore becoming increasingly important.

"People with severe diabetes need to take insulin but having to inject this can be problematic, and it's difficult to get insulin levels just right. It's highly desirable for people to come off insulin injections and instead use oral therapeutics."

The first study, in collaboration with The Scripps Research Institute in Florida, US, describes an honours research project by Rebecca Frkic, where 14 different versions of a drug which partially activates PPARgamma were produced. Partial activation can have the benefit of fewer side-effects than full activation.

The original drug, INT131, is currently being tested in clinical trials in the US but some of the versions produced at the University of Adelaide have increased potency compared to the original, with the potential to further improve the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

"A major finding of this study was being able to show which regions of the drug are most important for interacting with the PPARgamma receptor," says Dr Bruning. "This means we now have the information to design modified drugs which will work even more efficiently."

The second study, in collaboration with Flinders University, used X-ray crystallography to demonstrate for the first time exactly how a potential new drug, rivoglitazone, binds with the PPARgamma receptor. Rivoglitazone fully activates PPARgamma but has less side effects than others with this mode of action.

"Showing how this compound interacts with its target is a key step towards being able to design new therapeutics with higher efficiencies and less side-effects," says lead author Dr Rajapaksha, from Flinders University School of Medicine (now at La Trobe University). "Lack of structural information was hampering determination of the precise mechanisms involved."

Story Source:

Materials provided by University of Adelaide. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Go here to read the rest:
Designing better drugs to treat type 2 diabetes - Science Daily

All signs seem to suggest Apple is gearing up to release a special blood sugar trackerfor the Apple Watch.

As it turns out, none other than CEO Tim Cook has been spotted wearing what appeared to be an Apple Watch-connected glucose tracker in the vicinity of the company campus, CNBC reports.

Unfortunately, details remain pretty scarce as of now with the exception that the new wearable module is directly connected to the Watch.

Assuming the Big A manages to fine-tune the rumored blood sugar tracker, the technology could become a must-have for millions of people suffering from or at risk of getting diabetes.

Apple was first rumored to be working on a dedicated diabetes wearable back in April, when CNBC reported the company has assembled a secret super-team of bioengineers to craft a solution for tracking blood sugar levels with the Watch.

Speaking at the University of Glasgow earlier in February, Cook said he had been wearing a continuous glucose monitor for a few weeks but stopped short of making any significant revelation about the gadget.

One thing the Apple chief clarified though is that the device would also make it easier for people to responsibly monitor their blood sugar levels and avoid health complications.

Its mentally anguishing to stick yourself many times a day to check your blood sugar, he commented. There is lots of hope out there that if someone has constant knowledge of what theyre eating, they can instantly know what causes the response and that they can adjust well before they become diabetic.

on CNBC

Read next: Microsoft's new Surface Pro just leaked, but it's not a 'Pro 5'

View post:
Tim Cook is reportedly testing Apple Watch-connected diabetes tracker - TNW

Photo: Carol Kaliff / Carol Kaliff

File photo of Huckleberry Hill Elementary School in Brookfields JDRF Kids Walk for Diabetes in April 2014.

File photo of Huckleberry Hill Elementary School in Brookfields JDRF Kids Walk for Diabetes in April 2014.

Bethel kids to walk to cure diabetes

BETHEL Students will walk to raise awareness for diabetes this Saturday.

Bethel High School is hosting its first JDRF Kids Walk to Cure Diabetes to help kids and families affected by type 1 diabetes. Registration begins at 10:30 a.m., with the walk and activities running from 11 a.m. to noon at the high school track.

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes research. More than 15,000 children in the United States are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes each year, according to the organization.

As of Thursday afternoon, the school had raised $480, just under half of its $1,000 goal. To donate or participate, visit the teams website at http://www2.jdrf.org/site/TR?team_id=234353&fr_id=6580&pg=team. Donations can also be brought to the walk.

For questions, contact Amy Gusitsch at agusitsch@gmail.com

See the article here:
Bethel kids to walk to cure diabetes - NewsTimes - Danbury News Times